​Wildlife & Animals – Volcanoes NP

Ariadne van Zandbergen
Expert
By Ariadne van Zandbergen

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Rwanda.

Tracking mountain gorillas is one of Africa’s top wildlife experiences, and Volcanoes National Park is perhaps the best place for it. There are 20 habituated troops here, 12 of which are used for visitors (the others are habituated for research purposes). Each troop has its own home range and family structure. Budget-permitting, you can consider booking two gorilla treks on two different days.

Abundant
Common
Occasional
Rare
None
GorillaCommon
ChimpanzeeNone
White RhinoNone
Black RhinoNone
LionNone
LeopardNone
CheetahNone
HippoNone
BuffaloRare
ZebraNone
WildebeestNone
ElephantRare
GiraffeNone

Wildlife Highlights

In addition to mountain gorillas, troops of habituated golden monkeys, endemic to the Albertine Rift, can also be tracked. They are among the most beautiful of African monkeys and their gentle nature makes them even more attractive. The monkeys have become totally relaxed around humans, which means you can observe them interacting, feeding and going about their daily routines.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Gorilla trekking is available throughout the year. Sightings are almost guaranteed at any time. In heavy rain, the trails become slippery, therefore tracking gorillas is easier during the Dry season, from June to August, and to a lesser extent in September, when it also rains a bit less. January and February are relatively dry as well. Gorilla trekking in the Dry season may require booking far in advance to ensure getting a permit.

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